Positano is a village on the Amalfi CoastThe main part of the city sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast.
Positano was a port of the Amalfi Republic in medieval times, and prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries. But by the mid-19th century, the town had fallen on hard times. More than half the population emigrated, mostly to Australia.
Positano was a relatively poor fishing village during the first half of the 20th century. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper’s Bazaar in May, 1953: “Positano bites deep”, Steinbeck wrote. “It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”
The church of Santa Maria Assunta features a dome made of majolica tiles as well as a 13th century Byzantine icon of a black Madonna. According to local legend, the icon had been stolen from Byzantium and was being transported by pirates across the Mediterranean. A terrible storm had blown up in the waters opposite Positano and the frightened sailors heard a voice on board saying “Posa, posa!” (“Put down! Put down!”). The precious icon was unloaded and carried to the fishing village and the storm abated. Positano has been featured in several films, including Only You (1994), and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), as well as being mentioned in the 2009 musical film Nine in the song “Cinema Italiano”.
Positano is also the setting for the romantic adventure novel, “Finding Positano, A Love Story” (2010), by William James. It also hosts the annual Cartoons on the Bay Festival, at which Pulcinella awards for excellence in animation are presented. From July 1967 and through most of the 1970s, Positano was home of singer-songwriter Shawn Phillips and was where most of his best known work was composed. Also, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones wrote the song “Midnight Rambler” in the cafes of Positano while on vacation.
Patricia Highsmith based the little port of Mongibello in The Talented Mr Ripley on Positano. The town is also where parts of the film adaptation were filmed. Today tourism is by far the major industry in Positano. Positano is also very popular for Limoncello and for L”Albertissimo”, an alcoholic tipple that can only be found at a small stall at the main harbour. One of our drivers will be waiting for you outside of the cruise ship terminal of Naples Sorrento or Salerno ( or at the Lobby of your Hotel) and be easily identified as he will be holding a sign with your name on it Your private driver will then escort you to your vehicle and begin this memorable shore excursion!
We will drive the real Sorrento hill, and soon after we will find ourselves on the Amalfi Coast. We will stop a few times along the way to take some photos of this beautiful coast. We will then find ourselves driving downhill directly through Positano where we will descend along the winding one-way street, passing through many quaint houses and shops, and finally arrive in the heart of the city, at “Piazza dei Mulini”. This is the last point reachable by car, so we will park our car and walk downtown where all roads lead to the seafront.
Here we can have about an hour or more to discover this beautiful village named “The Jewel of the Amalfi Coast”.
Positano has beautiful things to see: the cathedral, the pottery shops, the lemons, the handmade shoes and, of course, the “Positano fashion”. In Positano you will have 2 hours of free time on your own to walk and expolre the city center to shop and relax in one of local caffetteria (coffe shop) . At end of your free time our driver will take you back to the cruise ship terminal or to the hotel.
DEPARTURE/RETURN LOCATION | At the Cruise ship terminal of Naples, Sorrento and Salerno or at the lobby office of your Hotel |
DEPARTURE TIME | 8:30am |
RETURN TIME | 12:30pm |
WEAR | Comfortable clothing and shoes. |
INCLUDED | English speaking driver Mini van or car Mercedes Tax Fuel Parking |
NOT INCLUDED | Lunch Gratuity |
Note for the Guests: You can customize the tour as you wish.
8:30am: Meeting time and departure to Positano
9.30am: Arrived in Positano and free time on your own
11.30am: End of the tour and departure time
Meeting point
Use the Google Maps navigator to easily reach our meeting point.
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